Air-separator



T. J. STURTE'VANT.

AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I6. I920- 1,367,636. Patented Feb. 8,1921.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I- y eflfioznqy.

T. J. SWHTEVANL AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.16, 1920.

1,367,686., Patented, Feb. 8, 192i.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. S TURTEVANT, 0F WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO STURTE- VANT MILL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

AIR-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed February 16, 1920. Serial No. 358,982.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. STURTE- VANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at W ellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Air-Separators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to air separators for grading materials, of the general type disclosed in my copending applicationSerial No. 353,689, filed January 24., 1920.

In the air separator of said application, the materials to be graded are introduced by an air current into the separating chamber, and means is provided for causing the air carrying the materials into the chamber to receive a whirl. This whirl develops a centrifugal force which tends to move the particles outwardly, and some of the particles are carried outwardly farther than others depending upon the character of the particles. This affords a classification effect so that the heavier particles and lighter particles are so separated that when the heavier particles gravitate downward through the separating chamber, their tendency to impinge upon and pull downward the lighter particles is materially reduced. Consequently, the lighter particles are free to be carried upward by the air current through the separating chamber, and the eiiiciency of separation is increased.

One of the purposes of the present invention isto provide simple and efficient means for producing a pronounced whirl effect of the air current coming into the separating chamber and carrying the materials to be graded therein.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a distributer conveniently in the form of a table opposed to and spaced from a rotary distributer which has a fan or blower effect. This table and distributer may be located adjacent the delivery end of a pipe or conductor through which the materials to be graded are pneumatically forced into the separating chamber. The table and rotary distributer will receive the materials pneumatically lifted into the separating chamber. and deflect or direct the air current and the materials carried thereby out- Figure 1 is a vertical section through one.

good ,form of separator embodying the invention;

Flg. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 on'an enlarged scale is a horizontal section showing the valve means construction for controlling the passage of the air from the outer collecting chamber to the inner or separating chamber.

Referring to the drawings, the air separator shown therein as one good form of the invention, comprises an outer casing having a lower conical wall 1 and an upper conical. wall 3 having outturned flanges which may be detachably connected by bolts 5 disposed at suitable intervals. These conical walls may diverge from their juncture for a purpose to be described. The upper end of the casing may be provided with a head 7, and the lower end of the casing may have an outlet 9 for discharging the fines therefrom, as more fully hereinafter described. A door 11, preferably sufficiently large to admit a man, may be provided in the casing to enable ready access to parts therein. The casing may be supported bv brackets or feet 13 secured thereto and adapted to rest on beams or other appropriate support.

Mounted within the outer casing and spaced a substantial distance therefrom, an inner casing may be provided comprising a conical wall 15 and a cylindrical wall 17 above and secured thereto. The lower end of the wall may be connected to a chute 19 entered through the lower conical wall of the outer casing, and adapted to discharge the finer t-ailings, as more fully hereinafter described. The inner casing may be supported by brackets 21 interposed between and secured to the outer and inner casings, and preferably directly opposite the casing sup iorting brackets 13.

ounted within and spaced from the inner casing 1s a ower conical wall 23 and an upper conical wall 25 connected by an intermediate cylindrical wall 27. Secured to and projecting outwardly from the upper edge of the upper conical wall 25 is a ringplate 29,spaced a substantial distance beneath the head 7 of the outer casing, and spaced a substantial distance above the upper edge of the cylindical wall 17 of the inner casing to afford an opening 31 between them. The lower conical Wall 23 may be supported by brackets 33 secured to the lower conical wall 15 of the inner casing. The walls described provide an inner or separating chamber 35, an outer or collecting chamber 37, and an intermediate chamber or passage 39. j

The pneumatic means for feeding the materials to be graded into the separator, in the present instance, ,comprises a pipe 41 projecting upward and preferably obliquely through the outer and inner casings toward the separating chamber. The materials to be graded may be introduced into this pipe through a mouth or hopper 43, in the present instance, communicating with said pipe outside of and adjacent to the lower end of the outer casing. A horizontal pipe 45 may be mounted on the top of the head of the outer casing and communicate with the interior of the latter through an opening 46 in said head. An upright pipe 47 may have its upper end in communication with the horizontal pipe 45, and its lower end in communication with the pipe 41 at a point a substantial distance beneath the hopper 43.

Suitable means may be provided for causing an air current to flow or circulate through said pipes, in the present instance, in the form ofa fan or blower 49 conveniently located at the uncture of the horizontal pipe 45 and the upright pipe 47. Since this fan or blower may be of a construction well known in the art, it is unnecessary to show and describe the same in detail herein. The air current passing through the pipes may be regulated by a valve 51 conveniently mounted in the upright pipe 47 and having a handle 53 for adjusting the same.

The materials to be graded on flowing down through the hopper 43, will meet the air current rising upward through the pipe 41, and this air current will have a scalping effect on the materials, lifting the lighter particles while allowing the coarser tailings to gravitate down through the pipe. The

coarser tailings may be discharged from the pipe through an outlet 55 provided with a valve or gate57 normally closed by a weight 69 on an arm projecting from the valve. When a sufficient weight of the coarser tailings has accumulated on this gate, it will automatically opento discharge the tailings through the outlet 55. Thereupon, the weight will'automatically close the gate. v

Mounted on the upper end of the feeding-in pipe 41 is a vertical pipe 61, in the referred to.

memes present instance, projecting upward to the cylindrical wall 27 of the separating chamber, although the height of this pipe may be varied according to conditions as re uired.

Next will be-described the means for deflecting the air current and the materlals carried thereby on issuance from the feeding-in pipe outwardly into the separating chamber with a pronounced whirl effect. This means, in the present instance, comprises a table 63 conveniently of annular form mounted on the upper end'of the pipe 61. A conical wall 64 mounted on the pipe 41 projects outwardly to the table 63 adjacent the periphery thereof for a purpose to be described.

Opposed to the table 63, a rotary distributer may be provided conveniently in the form of a disk 67 secured to a hub 69 mounted on the lower end of a vertical-shaft 71 projecting upwardly through and beyond the casing head 7 and journaled in bearings 73 on a bracket 75 mounted on'the head 7. Fasten the upper end of the shaft 71 is a pulley 77 which may be driven by a belt from any suitable source of power.

Projecting from the lower face of the distributer disk 67, a series of blades 79 may be provided. These blades project toward, but preferably do not meet the table 63. At

- the center of the disk 67, an invertedconical deflector 65 is provided having its apex projecting toward the upper end of the pipe 61. The construction is such that the air current and the materials carried thereby on rising upward from the pipe 61, will meet the deflecting cone 65 and be caught by the rotary distributer vanes 79 which will act with a fan or blower effect, and cause the air and materials to whirl through the space between the table 63 and the disk 67 outwardly into the separating chamber.

Suitable means may be provided to cause an air current to move upward through the separating chamber, and downward through the outer or collecting chamber 37. To accomplish this, in the present instance, a fan 81 may be provided having a series of vanes 83 mounted at suitable intervals on a disk 85 on a hub 87 fast on the vertical shaft 71 These vanes are located in the chamber between the head 7 of the casing and the ring. 29. The construction is such that rotation of this fan will cause an air current to risethrough the separating chamber. pass thence outward between the vanes of the fan into the outer or collecting cham her, and return thence through the opening 31 and the passage 39 to the separating chamber in a closed circuit. 1 The air current thus developed will whirl upward into theseparating chamber and meet the whirling air current developed by the rotary distributer and cotiperate therewith in separating the materials. The air current thus developed will rise in a spiral path upward through the separating chamber, and the heavier particles or tailings will gravitate downward through the separating chamber and the discharge chute 19, while the lighter particles will be carried upward through the separating chamber. Opposed to the conical wall 25 is a cone 89 mounted on the rotary dist'ributer disk 67 and projecting from the periphery thereof upward to a hub 91 mounted on the vertical shaft 71. The air current and the lighter materials will be directed by the conical walls 25 and 89 inward toward the hub of the fan 81, and will. be deflected by the disk 85 of said fan outward between the vanes of the fan and thence into the collecting chamber. The lighter particles will gravitate downward through this chamber and be delivered through the outlet 9. The air current will return through the opening 31 and the passage 39 to the separating chamber as described.

A portion of the air current will flow around the edge of the fan disk 85 and thence inward to and through the opening 16 in the casing head 7, and pass thence through the horizontal pipe 45 to the feedingin fan 19. Thus, air current will flow in a closed circuit through the pipes 45, 47, 41 and 61, and upward through the separating chamber 35. The. fan 89 will develop a whirling air current transversely to. the path of the air current returning from the separating chamber to the pipe 15, and the centrifugal effect of the air current will tend to clean or free the returning air current from the particles.

Suitable valve means may be provided for the opening 31 between the outer chamber 37 and the separating chamber to regulate the air current passing therethrough. This valve means, in the present instance, comprises a series of vanes 91 mounted on posts 93 carried by a ring 95 resting on an inturned flange 97 at the upper edge of the cylindrical wall 17 referred to. The vanes may be connected by links 99 with lugs 101 on an angle bar ring 103 secured to and depending from the ring plate 29. means may be provided to adjust .the vane supporting ring 95 circumt'erentially with respect to the inturned flange 97. This means, in the present instance, comprises an arm 105 fast on the ring 95 and connected to a rod 107 which projects through a sleeve 109 mounted on the outer casing. The rod 107 is urged inward by a coil spring 111 encircling said rod, and confined between one end of the sleeve 109 and a collar 113 on said rod. The outer end portion 115 of the rod may be threaded to receive a hand nut 117.

The construction is such that the hand nut' may be adjusted to move the vane supporting Suitable ring 95 circumferentially and thereby vary the degree of opening of the vanes 91. In some instances the ring may be adjusted entirely to close said vanes if desired.

In operation, the materials to be separated are introduced into the hopper 43. ()n flowing down therethrough, they are caught by the air current rising in the pipe 11, and the lighter aarticles are lifted up through said pipe, w iile the coarser tailings gravitate down through said pipe and are discharged through the outlet 55 as' described, The air current and the lighter particles on reaching the upper end of the pipe 61 meet the conical deflector 65 and the disk 67, and are deflected outwardly into the space between the-table 63 and said disk. The rotating vanes 79 produce a whirl of the air current and particles and generate a centrifugal force which causes the particles to tend to move outward into the separating chamber, some particles farther than others, depending on the relative weight or other characteristics of the particles. Here the particles and the whirling air current meet the air current rising through the separating chamber, and the finer tailings gravitate downward and are discharged through the outlet 9, while the fines are whirled upward through the separating chamber, and thence outward into the collecting chamber 37, and are discharged therefrom. The lighter particles. will be further whirled by the cone 89 and carried by centrifugal force outward along a'nd closely adjacent to the upper conical wall of the outer casing. They will flow downward and outward along said wall and pass the opening 31 at a point remote from said opening. As aconsequence, the percentage of fines returned by the air current through the opening 31 is reduced to a minimum.

By the.invention, a simple, strong and eflicient separator is provided which may desirably serve in classifying materials into three grades.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, a collecting chamber, pneumatic means to cause an air current to move upward in the separating chamber, pneumatic feed means to introduce materials to be graded upwardly into the separating chamber, and rotary means positioned above and opposed to said pneumaticfeed means .for whirling the air and materials issuing from said feed means outwardly in the separating chamber. Y

2. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, a conduit leading from the upper end of said separating chamber to the lower end thereof, means to admit materials to be graded into said conduit, a fan for causing air current to flow through said conduit to lift the materials up into said separating chamber, and a rotary distributer opposed to the delivery end of said conduit for whirling the air and materials outward into said separating chamber.

3. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, a conduit leading from the upper end of said separating chamber to the lower end thereof, a shaft projecting down into said separating chamber toward the delivery end of the conduit, a fan on said shaft for causing air current to move upward through said separating chamber, means to admit materials into the conduit to be fed pneumatically into said separating chamber, and a rotary distributer for causing air and materials issuing from the conduit to be thrown outward into said separating chamber.

4. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, means for causing a current of air to pass upwardly through said chamber, a conduit leading upwardly into said chamber, pneumatic means for feeding the materials to be graded upwardly through the conduit into said chamber, and rotary means positioned above the delivery end of the conduit for causing the materials entering the chamber to whirl outwardly into the path of said current of air.

5. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber having a tapered wall, pneumatic means to feed materials to be graded upwardly into said separating chamber, a rotary distributor above the pneumatic feed means for whirling the air and materials outwardly in said separating chamber, and a rotary tapered wall spaced from the tapered wall of said separating chamber for promoting the whirl of the air and materials therein.

6. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a casing having a separating chamber therein, a pipe having a delivery end projecting upwardly into said chamber, a fan for forcing an air current through said pipe to feed materials to be graded into said chamber, a table adjacent the delivery end of said pipe, a disk above and spaced from said table, a series of vanes on ,said disk, and means to rotate said disk to cause a whirl of the air current and materials as they pass from said pipe into said separating chamber.

7. An. air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, a conduit leading upwardly into said chamber, pneumatic means for feeding the materials to be graded upwardly through the conduit into said chamber, and rotary means positioned above the delivery end of the conduit for causing the materials entering the chamber to whirl outwardly within the chamber.

8. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a sepa rating chamber, means for conducting air from the upper portion of the chamber and returning the air through the lower portion thereof, means to introduce materials to be graded into the air moving up in said conducting means, and a disk having vanes thereon and opposed to the delivery end of the penumatic feed means for causing the air current and materials issuing from the latter to whirl outwardly into the separating chamber.

9. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, means pneumatically to feed materials to be graded upward into said separating chamber, a shaft, a fan thereon for causing air current to move upward in said separating chamber, and a second fan on said shaft for causing the air and materials issuing from said feed means to whirl outwardly in said separating chamber and into the path of the upwardly moving air cur rent.

10. An air sepa 'ator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, means pneumatically for feeding materials to be graded upward into said separating chamber, a vertical shaft projecting downward into said separating chamber, a fan on said shaft for causing air current to move upward through said separating chamber, and a cone on said shaft having a series of vanes for causing the air and materials issuing from said pneumatic feed means to whirl outward into said separating chamber and into the path of the upwardly moving air current.

11. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, a pipe projecting upward into said separating chamber, means to admit ma terials to be graded into said pipe, means to cause an air current to pass through said pipe and lift the materials into said separating chamber, a table mounted on the upper end of said pipe in said separating chamber, and a rotary distributor opposed to said table for causing the air and materials on delivery from said pipe to whirl through the space between said table and distributor outward into said separating chamber.

12. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a casing having therein a separating chamber and acollecting chamber communicating with the separating chamber, valve means controlling the communication between the chambers, a fan for causing a current of air to move in a closed circuit through said separating chamber, collecting chamber, and valve means back into said separating chamber, pneumatic means for feeding materials to be graded into said separating chamber in the path of the air current moving upwardly therein, and a rotary distributer opposed to the delivery end of said pneumatic feed means to cause the materials to whirl outward in said separating chamber.

13. An air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber, a conduit forming a by-pass leading from the upper end of said separating chamber to the lower end thereof, a fan for causing a current of air to flow through the conduit upward into said separating chamber, means to admit materials to be graded into the conduit to be lifted by the air current therein into the separating chamber, a shaft, a fan thereon for promot- 14:. An'air separator for grading materials, comprising, in combination, a separating chamber having a delivery outlet, a collecting chamber having a delivery outlet, a by-pass conduit and a fan for causing a current of air to circulate upward through the separating chamber, said conduit having a delivery outlet within the separating chamber, means to admit materials to be graded in the-path of the air current moving upward through the conduit, and a rotary distributer in said separating chamber for causing the materials issuing from said passage to whirl outwardly within the separating chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

THO S J. STURTEVANT. 

